Hudson's Griffith Rookie of the Year

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Derek Griffith of Hudson, N.H., was awarded the 2012 Rookie of the Year at the recent Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS) Banquet held here.

Griffith, who turns 16 next month, finished eighth in the season standings, competing against a field that consisted of mostly seasoned veteran drivers.

Griffith was awarded a $1,000 gift certificate to AR Bodies and $300 from Jack's Competition Engines as part of the award. He was also presented a trophy for finishing eighth in the season standings, while car owners Louie Mechalides of Tyngsboro and John Griffith of Hudson, N.H., accepted a point fund check.

GSPSS founder Mike Parks thanked the Webber family, which operates both the Star and Hudson Speedways, for hosting three events to help the series get started in 2012. All three events were well attended, and will return next season as part of an 11-race schedule.

The series had six events in its inaugural season.

Bobby Cabral of Kingston, N.H., won the 2012 GSPSS championship with one win and five top-five finishes, but he will not be defending his title.

Griffith will next compete in New Smyrna, Fla., during Speedweeks. The half-mile oval holds race events nightly from Feb. 15-23.

In other local racing news, the Valenti Modified Series announced that the feature lineups will now be based on heat-race finishes rather than positions gained during those qualifying events. Teams will be allowed four tires per event rather than three.

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Roughly 20 to 25 of the 59 registered teams were present at the meeting, held in Stafford Springs, Conn.

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